Back in February, it was announced that sci-fi veteran and current Gotham resident Morena Baccarin had been cast as one of the leads in the upcoming Deadpool movie. The Brazilian actress had edged out such actresses as Orange is the New Black’s Taylor Schilling and Teen Wolf’s Crystal Reed. Of course, we were thrilled to see the Emmy-nominated (for Homeland) actress snag a major role in what’s sure to be a huge film. But we had no idea who she’d portray opposite lead actor Ryan Reynolds.
Then, back in March, Baccarin tweeted a picture of her chair from the movie set, which had the name “Vanessa” on it. And comic geeks and movie fans rejoiced, because they realized Baccarin had been cast as Vanessa Carlysle a.k.a. Copycat, a shape-shifting mutant who falls in love with Deadpool but makes more than a little trouble for him throughout their relationship.
Baccarin’s been pretty involved in DC Comics-related projects: she’s done voiceover work as Justice League member Black Canary and Wonder Woman’s nemesis, Cheetah, in animated shows and movies. And she’s currently starring as Dr. Leslie Thompkins on Fox’s Gotham. We’re pretty confident she can make the jump to the Marvel-verse.
Although the Deadpool trailer doesn’t feature Baccarin, it’s pretty funny and even a little bilingual (try not to laugh at “piscina de la muerte.”) Check it out…
Without further ado, here’s our list of the top five reasons to get excited about seeing Copycat on the big screen.
1
She’s a sinner and a saint.
Vanessa Carlysle is a prostitute when she first meets Wade Wilson before he becomes Deadpool. But when he leaves her (because he’s dying of cancer), she goes to work for his former employer, Mr. Tolliver (another mutant), as a mercenary. She does plenty of bad before getting around to doing some good, but even her lover doesn’t know which side she’s on at any given time.
2
Copycat is one powerful mutant.
Basically, she’s a combination of Mystique and her adopted daughter, Rogue. Not only can she take on any shape, but she can also replicate any mutant’s special ability after physically touching them. Oh, and she can do that without nearly killing them (sorry, Rogue).
3
She’s a love interest, adversary, and teammate all rolled up in one.
Aside from casting news, details on the Deadpool movie have been few and far between. So we don’t know if Vanessa/Copycat will be relegated to his origin story, or if she will get the chance to show off her incredible abilities. But in the comics, she’s been Deadpool’s on-again-off-again lover and his enemy, as well as fought alongside him for and against the Weapon X team (yeah, their relationship is a little weird).
4
She infiltrated a team of mutants.
Copycat was ordered by Tolliver to infiltrate the X-Force, which was a mutant strike force led by Cable, and then plant a bomb to kill them all. She posed as Domino, another mutant, who also happened to be Cable’s lover. But Copycat ended up getting too attached to her new team and couldn’t go through with her mission. She eventually makes amends with the folks she deceived.
5
She might have nine lives.
(Warning, there are some 14-year-old spoilers ahead)
In the comics, Copycat is ordered by Weapon X to take out Deadpool. She forgets her mission, because years of shape-shifting and experimentation by the Weapon X team have seriously messed with her head. A fight with the mutant Kane and some Bronx Zoo gorillas mortally wounds her, but Deadpool gives her some of his quick-healing blood. At last glance, she was running a chimichanga stand, which must be a nod to Deadpool’s frequent use of Spanish.